SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13470, 24 April 1907, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

THE MANAWATU MEETING

The Manawatu Racing Club will open their autumn meeting today, when tlx: Third Manawatu Stakes will be brought up for decision. This event is run over threequarters of a mile, under weight-for-age conditions, with a scale of penalties for winners and allowances for maidens attached. With Achilles, Volume, Helen Portland, Glenculloch, Count Witte, and Elevation engaged, there is material to furnish a most interesting contest. Achilles and Glcnculloch will have to put up the maximum penalty of 101b, which will have the effect of raising their imposts to 9st 101b and Sst respectively. Elevation and Count Witte will, with a 51b penalty each, carry 7st 91b. In the C.J.C. Champagno Stakes (which event was run over a similar distance to the race under review), Count Witte just beat Elevation a head at equal weights, and, as the latter came out on the following clay and won ho Challenge Stakes, that fact will serve to infuse a good deal of interest into the meeting of the two colts at Manawatu to-day. Glenculloch's winning display in the North Island Challenge Stakes at Trentham last, Wednesday showed the son of Clanranald up in attractive colours, and, as a journey of threequartors of a mile is believed to bo more to his liking than one of seven furlongs, he will probably prove equal to throwing out a stiff challenge when the whips come out.

Lady Annie claims an engagement in the Telegraph Stakes (six furlongs), to he run at the Manawatu meeting to-day. Under her original impost of Bst 81b, the daughter of Soult could, in the light of her recent form, he justifiably estimated a "good tiling ' for the race in question; but since the weight* made their appearance Lady Annie has won two races, and that, entails penalties to the extent of 161b, which means that if she is started to-day she will he loaded with 9st 101b. The field engaged in the Telegraph Handicap is not a strong one, hut, still, it may be doubted if Sir George Clifford will order Lady Annie to he saddled up. THE AVONDALE MEETING. In the event of the weather proving fine on Saturday next it may be confidently anticipated that a large concourse of racegoers will journey to Avondale, in order to assist at the inauguration of the autumn meeting at the western suburb. All round, the acceptances are of a highly satisfactory character, and, as it can also be said that the liandicapper lias succeeded in throwing a strong veil of obscurity over the various issues, the prediction can be safely offered that a highly-interesting afternoon's sport will eventuate. The programme will bo run off in the following order: — Maiden Plate Handicap, Handicap Hurdle Race, Oakley Handicap, Juvenile Handicap, Avondale Handicap, First Pony Handicap, Chevalier Handicap, Railway Handicap. THE GREAT NORTHERN MEETING. No sooner is the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting over than the Great Northern meeting looms up; and from an advertisement appearing in another column it will bo seen that nominations fall due on Friday next for the three principal jumping events of that programme, viz., ho Great Northern Hurdle Race, Great. Northern Steeplechase, and Winter Steeplechase. The distance of the j Great Northern Hurdle Race having been extended from two miles and it-quarter to two miles and a-half, it will be interesting to note whether the nomination list, is affected. It may be remarked that, the Great Northern Hurdle Race is the longest distance raco of its class decided in New Zealand. ATTEMPT TO BRIBE A HANITER. A few weeks back a Melbourne cablegram stated that a man named Allietti had endeavoured to bribe Mr. S. Griffiths, handicapper to the Moonee Valley Racing Club. Tho affair, which caused a mild sensation, was further accentuated when Allietti, after making a confession, was arrested by the., police. And as lib was later on committed for trial, that circumstance added still further to the situation. A Melbourne cablegram to hand states that Allietti duly appeared to stand his trial. The presiding judge considered that the ends of justice would be satisfied without ordering Allietti to expend some time in tho service of His Majesty the King, and he was allowed his liberty on payment of a fine of £100. The following is the confession made by Allietti: —"That, on Wednesday, February 13, 1907, at Epsom, I baciked tho horse Caveat ('.' Parrot), lielonging to Mr. Samuel Griffiths, for the Welter Purse, and I laid Mr. Griffiths £100 to nothing about tho horse. Caveat did not win. That on Friday afternoon, February 15, Edward Kelly (a registered bookmaker), who has been on intimate terms with mo for about six weeks, spoke to me in Collins-street, Melbourne, and said: ' You have got a pretty good pull on Griffiths. Ho lias accepted money off you about a handicap, which a liandicapper should not do. He is the liandicapper for Moonee Valley. I've got a horse (Gelignite) in the Welter Plate and Purse at Moonee Valley on the 20th. I'll mako these handicaps out myself, and submit them to Griffiths, and offer him £100 to £150 to accept them. I'm a real first-class liandicapper, and, if he'll come to it, 1 can make an absolute certainty of it. It's a million to one on, and we'll get five or six thousand out of it. We'll halve it between lis.' I then left Kelly, making an appointment to meet him again at half-past, five p.m., after 1 had seen Griffiths in the meantime. 1 went out, to Malvern to seo Griffiths, but found that he was not a), home. 1 met Kelly as arranged, and told him of my want, of success. Kelly said. 'I must find out to-night, whether he'll come to it, as the handicaps will I'm* published on Monday morning, and J must have mine made out by Saturday.' After some discission Kelly suggested that I should wire Co Griffhhs.to meet me at. the Port Phillip Club Hotel at a-quarter past seven o'clock that evening. I accordingly did so. Griffiths kept the appointment, and I first, spoke lo him about Parrot's running at Epsom. Then I offered him £100 to handicap a certain horse in a race at Moonee Valley, on February 20, in a way I would tell him. He refused to do so, and walked away. Kelly had appointed to meet me at tho hotel at eight p.m. 1 did not wait, but left a message for him next. day. At Caulfield I told him the result of my interview. That I am leaving for England in about three weeks' time, per s.s. Moldavia, and that I am willing to personally appear l>eforo tho V.R.C. to substantiate the foregoing statements, and ] make this solemn declaration, etc.J. L. Allietti." The man Kelly referred to in AllicMi's confession was a prominent liookmaker and trainer-horseowner, and ho ' has been ruled out by the Victoria Racing Club. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. Mr. Robertson was not long in finding a name for the yearling full brother to Poseidon. The high-priced youngster is to be known as Orcus. Whcolarra (by Phoebus Apollo—Chrysolite) won the River Handicap at the West Australian Turf Club's Autumn Meeting, beating ten opponents. A post-mortem examination of the carcase of the stallion Sir Fcote revealed that the cause of death was a microbic diseases, which brought about septic poisoning. Shrapnel,who is in training at Ellerslie, is looking very well, and the character of the schooling work for which The Workman's son has been responsible shows that he is still an accomplished jumper, Akarana, who has not been seen in public since he contested at tho Takaimna Jockey Club's Summer Meeting, figures as an acceptor for the principal event at the Avondalo meeting on Saturday next. Reports from Melbourne state that Mr. J. Wren intends giving £3000 for a mile race at the Ascot course during next November. The Melbourne man contends that under tlio new Gaming Act all courses have equal rights, and expects that registered horses will be allowed to compete. This will be the largest stake ever given in the Commonwealth for a mile event. The Auckland-bred Prophecy (by Phoebus Apollo—Problem) continues to show good form in West Australia. At tho West Australian Turf Club's Autumn Meeting she won the Osborne Stakes of 150s>ovs from end to end. Prophecy, who is a three-year-old half-sister to Solution, is held to be pretty good, and all going well with her she mav be seen to great advantage in some big . event later on.

IN T PROVIN CIAL GOSSIP. [BY TELK'jnU'H.—OWN COKKKSI'OSDEN TS.) CANTERBURY. Tuesday. Before racing commenced on the second day, of the autumn meeting at Riccarton it, was reported that Slow Tom had changed hands, and ho carried Mr. D. Rutherford's colours in tho hurdle rate. Subsequently it transpired that tho deal was off. It is now repotted that legal proceedings may result over the matter. Ruapehu, who is a much improved animal. won a double. Mr. 1). Rutherford .supplied the runner-up in each case with (>iovanni and Gwendoline. Both the latter are by St. 11 a no, and 1 fancy they will turn out useful later on. Monkey Puzzle, the three-year oi.) sister to Ostiak, took part in the hurdle race at the North Canterbury meeting last week. When .-lie becomes more seasoned at the game she should pay her way over the battens. OstachkoiT (by Stepniak--Cobweb), and, therefore, full brother to the Winter Cup winner Spider, died in Otago last week. Cuirossetia, De la Hey, and Heirloom are being schooled over hurdles'at Wiugatui. , l'iie horses competing at the North Canterbury meeting last week were a very moderate lot. ill - . J. F. Buchanan suffered a serious loss during tho week, the yearling filly by Mensehikoff— dying from the* effects of an attack of strangles. Tho hurdler Evenlodo was purchased last week by the gentleman who races as Mr. Montalt. The price is said to have been £300. Munjcet went slightly amiss during her visit to Trentham, which accounts for her being a non-starter at, the meeting. Idnsa, who is to be given a trial at' hurdle racing, shaped well in a schooling task during (he week. The two-year-old Pretty Nell has been taken in hand again, and is looking well after her spell. Lapland, who has had an easy time since the I.imam meeting, has resumed work. He looks light, though he has freshened up a little. ' Bucelcucli appears to have, thrown off the effects of tlio soreness which affected him after the Tiuiaru meeting, Strathfillan, tlio three-vear-old by Strathbraan—l'alka, has joined Longicy I s team. NAPIER. , ... , . Tuesday, Arcadia is making first-class progress in his schooling over the obstacles, and if he goes on improving he should assuredly prove more than useful as a jumper. King Billy, Boomerang, and Gazeley are under orders for Pnlmerston North. ' The trio are engaged at, the autumn meeting of the Manawatu Racing Club. Owing to the continued wet weather (it has been raining with very little cessation since last Monday morning), no work of any note has been done on either the Hastings or Napier Park tracks. Strowan, who was recently acquired bv a I aimers ton North sport, arrived from Gisborne on Monday, and was the same day railed through to his new home. Lochiol's son looked in great, heart. His future looks promising. Lavinia is now a pupil of 11. Moore's, a patron of his having secured the mare. ' Captain Jingle has been registered as the joint property of Messrs. D. E. Davis and J. McLaughlin. Hawke's Bay owners were well represented at. the Wellington meeting. Pawn, Grand Slam, Kurawaka, Ox ton, Sir Tristram, and Swimming Belt, who respectively came homo in the van, being owned in this district. formidable is the name that has been chosen for the rising four year-old (laughter of Torpedo and H.M.s. Pinafore. The mare has been leased by her owner, Mr. S. Peel to W. 11. Moses. * WANG A NUT. ... . . Tuesday. . Irish Rifle is doing good work here, an<? it is almost a sertainty that the chestnut son of Musketry and Element; will bo seen out . at, our steeplechase, meeting. By-thc-way, Stepson, who was recently put into work, went amiss tho other morning, and will not bo able to start, at our meeting, on the 23rd and 24th. prox. Armistice, lontenoy, and Handsome Rosa represent Wanganui in the Hatvera. Cup J lie first nil mod is rapidly getting hack to " net- old form. . • . The locally-owned and trained Dear Dolly is a mare oil tho improve, and should win »- races before long. -.Mr. Leo Wilson, of Okoia, who is recognised as a first-class horseman, is at present breaking in a. fine-looking chestnut gelding whi 'h i" ]Ur .' 'J' l ° horse in question, winch stands about seventeen hands high, is owned by Mr. W. 11. Keith. MANAWATU RACJNCr CLUB'S AUTUMN MEETING. [Bt TELEGRAI'II.— PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Palmer.ston North, Tuesday. All horses engaged in the Manawatu meeting have now arrived. The fields, with the exception of the hurdle events (which demonstrate the paucity of jumpers in the coiony). promise to r afford interesting races Chief interest is, of course, centred in the - fauawatu Stakes, which promises to furnish r a capital contest. Helen Portland •'< ie oi ted /° be Buffering from a kick from Marguerite at the post at Trentham on Saturday, but she is fully expected to go to the post in tho big snrint event. The Probable starters for the Manawatu Stake® are: Achilles, Helen Portland, Glenculloch, Kairoma, Count Witte, Elevation, Gold Crest, aid Monarch. 'I no general opinion is that one of i the two-year-olds will win V, . the acceptors Seaman and' Fontcnoy will bo absentees, wnilo Volume is not a likely starter tomorrow. Aberration anpf-arcd as an acceptor for he Longburn Handicap in error. He should have been in the Tuikorea Welter, with the weight Bst 31b. Heavy rain fell to-day. and the going at Awapuni promises to be holding to-morrow